As we begin the New Year, I can’t help but reflect on all the movies I have watched over the past twelve months. One movie in particular stands out to me: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This movie has earned its spot on my favorite-movies-of-all-time list. Here’s a few reasons why…

Cinematography

Having never been a huge Spider-Man fan myself, I was surprised by the film’s unique cinematography: unlike the previous Spider-Man films, this movie was an animated motion picture. The cartoonish animations allowed me to view the movie as a comic book coming to real life. Because of this, the film never seemed to have a dull moment. I found myself captivated by the multimedia elements of the cinematography: the classic speech bubbles, sound effects, and comic strips all had me on the edge of my seat.

Message

Part of this movie’s appeal comes from how it addresses real-life issues plagued by teenagers and society. As a viewer, I found myself relating to the protagonist, Miles Morales, as he faced familial struggles, societal pressure, and self-doubt. This is a coming-of-age movie which undoubtedly serves the purpose of empowering its viewers. My favorite moment from the movie occurred with the line, “You’ve got to take the leap.” Indeed, in order to overcome your fears and grow into a stronger person, you must take the leap of faith.

Soundtrack

To this day, the soundtrack of this film is stuck in my head. It is just that good. The most iconic song—introduced during the beginning and ending of the movie—is “Sunflower” by Post Malone. My other recommendations include Aminé’s “Invincible” and Duckwrth’s “Start a Riot.”

…So, grab some popcorn and a big group of friends, and head out to your nearest theater to watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie. Hurry, before it’s too late!